2011 Map of Hill Ranch

About this map

Hill Ranch occupies the high plains of Garfield County in this contemporary study of rural Montana’s ranching landscape. The area is defined by a dendritic network of intermittent watercourses, including Sage Hen Creek and Dog Creek, which are critical to the region's agricultural viability. Local topographical features such as Melnick Coulee and Dutch Oven highlight the erosional nature of the terrain, while the construction of infrastructure like Shaw Dam, Shaw Number 1 Dam, and Montana Number 26 Dam illustrates the ongoing management of water resources in this arid environment. This documentation provides a clear look at the sparse settlement patterns and land-use priorities in the Missouri River watershed during the early 21st century.